Madonna Castissima c. 19th century

Editor: This print, "Madonna Castissima," was created by Manuel Esquivel Sotomayor, who lived from 1777 to 1842. The original artwork resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Curator: There's a distinct serenity about her downward gaze and the soft oval framing. It speaks of quiet contemplation. Editor: Right. It's a copy of a Raphael painting, and its reproduction as a print speaks to broader access and distribution of religious iconography. I am especially drawn to how the printing process made sacred imagery accessible to a wider audience through relatively inexpensive means. Curator: Definitely. That accessibility also transforms its symbolic weight. It's no longer solely about the divine but also about the human touch in replicating and disseminating the image. Editor: Precisely, and that blend of spiritual and material realities informs our understanding. Curator: A beautiful and important observation!